Tragedy strikes: Shmuel Magen, z'l

SHUVU BANIM STUDENT SHMUEL MAGEN IS KILLED IN AN AWFUL ROAD ACCIDENT

Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet was marred by a terrible tragedy within the Shuvu Banim community in Jerusalem. Shmuel Isaac Magen, z’l, 18, at Shuvu Banim’s Mercaz Chinuch Atidech, was fatally injured in a traffic accident in Talpiot, while he was on his way to daven at Kever Rochel.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet.

Shmuel had been regularly praying and learning at Kever Rachel almost every day, for the last three years. Police opened an investigation into the accident, but it seems as though Shmuel’s motorbike hit a ditch, which caused him to lose control.

As news of the terrible tragedy spread through the community, Rav Eliezer Berland, shlita, eulogized Shmuel with the following words.

> “Shmuel was one of the tzaddikim of the generation.

He was from the neshama (soul) of Moshiach ben David. And that’s why he atoned for all the sins of Israel. Now, he is magen (protecting) us all.

“It’s written in all the holy books that on the 1st of Adar, the soul of Moshiach is revealed. Either you are revealed, or you are taken from the world.

“SHMUEL MAGEN WAS THE SOUL OF MOSHIACH BEN DAVID, AND HE WAS TAKEN FROM THE WORLD.

And by way of this, he is atoning for all of the children of Israel. Now, he is protecting us. He has been transformed into the Angel Michael, as it’s written: Eyshit chayil ateret ba’alah.

“Rabbenu says in Lesson 61 of Likutey Moharan that when the soul of a Tzaddik rises up [to heaven], this creates a chuppah, so now, it’s a chuppah.

“He was the most righteous and holy one of the generation. There wasn’t someone like this [in the past], and there will not be someone like this [again].

> “Now, he is magen, protecting us, in heaven and also in the Aretz (the land of Israel). He is a righteous defender [of the Jewish people]."

Below, you can watch Rav Eliezer Berland, delivering the chesped (eulogy) before the funeral:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWORCXsCH14[/embedyt]

We extend our deepest condolences to the Magen family. May they be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion.